The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-01-21
SENATOR DAVIS.

The Minnesota Legislature on Wednes-
day performed its last official act on the
Senatorial question by confirming ex.
Governor Davis United States Senator.
In the Senate the vote stood: Davis 80,
Doran IA; House, Davis 20, Doran 26,
Ara Barton, of Rice 2. Lucas and Skin
ner, Democrats, refused to recognize
Doran and cast their votes for Barton.
Minnesota is proud of her new Sena-
tor, as we'll she may be, and the United
States Senate will be improved and ad.
yanced in craftsmanship by his success.
Senator McMillan.has made good, faith
ful public servant, and when he retires
on the 4th of March, it will be with the
assurance that he has served the State
we'll. No one can charge him with Il
single dishonorable act.
At the conclusion of the formal pro-
ceedings incident to declaring the cleo
ton of the Senator before the joint as
scmbly, a committee was selected 10 in
troduce Mr.. Davis, and when the gen.
tleman appeared before the large audi
ence, he was received with heartiness
of applause which demonstrated that
the representatives had chosen the man
whom the people of the State had been
waiting to honor with the highest testi.
monial of regard and friendship possible
for them TO bestow, and now that the
act had been accomplished they were
ready to seal their appreciation.
The Senator took this occasion to place
himself Alright before his own constitu-
ency aud before the whole nation upon
the question of tariff, and he did 80 in
his usually brilliant and forcible way, as
follows:
Mr.. Speaker, Senators and Represent
atives: You have informed me through
you committee that have been elected
to represent, in part, this commonwealth
in the senate of the United States; and /
appear ut your invitation and IN Obedi-
ence TO custom, to acknowledge the hon.
or which you have conferred upon me.
l thank YOU, and through you thank
the people of this State for their choice.
II fulfills an aspiration which, in an hon.
orable form, has in some degree direct
ed my studies and thought. | accept
the office, in the hope that the expecta-
tons which generous constituency
may entertain will not be wholly disap-
pointed. You will permit me to say
that the unanimity with which great
party has selected me for this office
makes me fear that too much Is re-
quired of me, and burdens me with
that difiidence which any man ought to
feel under such circumstances. Tie re-
strictions of this occasion do not permit
any elaborate statement of political
opinions; / trust that such a statement
Is not at all necessary. 1t has been my
endeavor on all occasions to state my
convictions frankly, and think that no
sincere person who has heard me can
have misunderstood me. will say that
in my opinion, an unnecessary surplus
of public revenue is II political and eco
nomical evil. That the revenues now
collected by the federal government are
too great, and that the true interest of
the people require wise and careful
revision and reduction of indirect taxa
ton, which will not lessen the wages of
labor or injure the industries of the
country. Ever since the year 1873,
when the generous people of this State
elected me to the Office of governor be-
cause | stood at an advanced point of
thought, as an advocate of their rights
in the attempt to assert the power of
the law over the corporations, 1t has
been my aim to continue upon the logi-
cal line of such principles, and !
am persuaded that it is your belief in
this which has caused you to invest me
with this, the highest testimonial of
your confidence. AS senator from
this State, shall consider myself the
servant of its people, bound 10 protect
their interests and to respect their wish
es. In my efforts to do this bespeak
ate judgment, assuring them that no eff
fort of mine shall be wanting to deserve
their approval.
cannot let this occasion pass without
acknowledging my obligations to my
friends, and especially to the press of
this State. That the peoples voice
spoke through this oracle of popular
opinion makes my obligation to it none
the less; and here tender my thanks
for an advocacy which has SO often spo-
ken in the language of personal affection
as to touch my heart and establish
lasting resting place in my memory.
The duties of a senator or representative
from this State will be intimately con-
nected with the new Northwest, of
which Minnesota is part. 1t is now
nearly thirty years 81 nce Mr.. Seward,
the most president of American states
men, stood upon this capitol and, look
ing into the seeds of time, declared that
he spoke from place destined to be the
center of great empire. This, like
other memorable utterances of that
prophetic spirit, was received
ceased and has been succeeded by be-
lief, as his prediction has come to pass.
He stood where civilization then stood,
pausing upon her Western outposts.
To-day there is not in the Northwest a
frontier from which such "a prediction
could be made. That which he foresaw,
exists. Great communities fill the area
from the Mississippi to the Pacific
Washington. Idaho, Montana and Da-
kOta struggling in the trammels of an
unjust pupilage. The relations of Min
nesota to the communities are of the
most intimate character and will contin-
Tie to be 80. The empire of the North
west was founded here, and, for many
years 10 come, the identity of interests
will make II the duty and interest of
every citizen Of this State to labor for its
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. ] esteem it as one of
the greatest privileges of my life to be
called to a position where, in some de-
gree, can assist in the development of
that vast region of which Minnesota is
now the most powerful component.
Repeating, gentlemen, my thanks for
the honor which you have conferred
upon me, pledge my best endeavors to
prove myself worthy of the esteem
which the gift of such an honor implies.